St. Patrick's Day Guide

Sleep in today and wake up ready to imbibe. You have no excuse for missing out on the biggest drinking day of the year. Start it off at the parade or an Irish brunch -- either way it'll be the start of a big day of drinking, dancing, kissing and digging out the 1/100th of you that's Irish. If Irish luck is with you, you might even see a leprechaun or two you can follow to a big ol' pot of gold. Slainte! -- Melissa Richter

Even though Griff's claims to be Houston's oldest sports bar, they still know how to party like they're barely legal. They have one of the best, and oldest, St. Patrick's Day parties to prove it. In the past week they have hosted a cook-off, a golf tournament and various drinking events. Thursday is the Paddy's Day Queen Contest. And, finally, the day o' days -- Saturday, March 17, brings the annual St. Patrick's Day parade with music, beer and friends. All day and night, of course. Get your tickets early.

To us dumb Americans, the Scottish and Irish are just the same. Who can tell the accents apart anyway? The Episcopal School Pipe Band is here to present the 44th annual Scottish Festival Journey to the Skye. Where else will you see 300 pipers, drummers and dancers? 8 p.m. $15$25. Tickets available at www.toyotacentertix.com, 1-866-4HOUTIX and select area Randalls locations.

With a little luck of the Irish, the St. Patrick's Day Parade could be one of the best ones yet. Leap with the leprechauns, pipe along with the pipers and kiss anyone who's Irish. The parade starts at noon, which is a perfectly decent hour to start drinking.

6th Street and Studemont in the Heights Teetotalers founded the Heights, but times are a-changin'. The corner of 6th Street and Studemont is quickly becoming a place to party, and they're out to prove it this drinking season. Fitzgerald's, 6th Street Bar & Grill, Beer Island, Jimmy's Icehouse, Heights Sports Bar and Onion Creek will have live music, drink specials and no cover all night. Take a cab and walk from bar to bar. Maybe you'll get lucky and find a nice lassie or laddie to take home.

6th Street Bar & Grill 2701 White Oak, 713-880-5999

The Irish are so lucky to have a bar celebrate them for 12 hours at the St. Pat's Party of the Year. From 2 p.m. to 2 a.m. there'll be nonstop music, drink specials and giveaways.

You know the best place to go for an Irish celebration is an Irish pub, and Brian O'Neill's is sure to bring out the Irish in you with its all-day celebration. Start your drinking at 8:30 a.m. with an Irish breakfast and live entertainment. Hang around for more good eats and drinks, with entertainment by Murder the Stout and O'Maoileidigh Irish Dancers. Finally, start the night strong with Cass Irish Dancers at 6 p.m. By this time, you should be able to dance with them.

Champp's 1121 Uptown Park, 713-627-2333

These guys claim to have a leprechaun, so you know some serious drinking must be involved. Enjoy the green beer with a free steamship buffet from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., which will include yummy corned beef and cabbage.

Comedy Sportz 901 Town & Country Boulevard

713-868-1444

St. Paddy's day isn't all about drinking with the Irish -- it's also about laughing at them. What makes less sense than a short, bearded, old man who wears a buckle on his hat pinching you inappropriately simply because you're not wearing a specific color? Get a $2 discount for wearing green. (A four-leaf clover pin will not cut it.)

The Ginger Man will be painting itself green today. This Irish celebration will have traditional food, great beer and live music. 1 p.m. to 2 a.m. No cover.

Hans' Bier Haus 2523 Quenby, 713-520-7474

These guys want you here so badly that if you bring something green from another bar, you'll get 50 cents off your beers all day long. Not only will there be live music, but giveaways and Irish beer specials from noon to 2 a.m. No cover.

The Harp 1625 Richmond, 713-528-7827

This laid-back pub will be sure to offer fun for the big day without feeling over the top.

If you've heard enough bagpipes for the day, then head to Jet Lounge for DJ D'lux spinning hip-hop, Latin abstract, house and funk. No screeching dead cats here. Doors open at 9 p.m. $7 cover for 21 and up.

Drink to your heart's content of green beer and sing along with live music from O'Smythe and O'Taylor.

Kenneally's Irish Pub 2111 S. Shepherd, 713-630-0486

When you put the words "Irish Pub" in your name, you know you have to throw one hell of a St. Patrick's bash with all the trimmings. The parking lot will be roped off so they can offer more food and beer. Bagpipers and other live music will be going on throughout the day, so dance a jig and revel in the malarkey. 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. $10.

Leon's Lounge 1006 McGowan, 713-659-3052

Leon's is a place to drink all year round, so you know they won't go wrong here for this Irish holiday. They're having a grand reopening party, too, so check out the changes and enjoy great drink specials.

Why just celebrate the Irish one day of the year? This sports cafe will have a three-day St. Paddy's blowout starting on Thursday and ending Saturday. 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Thursday and Friday, and 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday. No cover and great drink specials.

McElroy's Pub 3607 S. Sandman, 713-524-2444

Take a step onto the isle in this cozy Irish pub. Packed with tradition, it's sure to offer a genuine St. Patrick's Day experience.

Not many places can say they've been named one of the top ten in the U.S. to celebrate St. Patrick's Day by USA Today, but these guys can. They know how to embrace all of Celtic culture with music, food and, of course, Guinness. Entertainment starts at noon and will include The Irish Session Players, The Celtic Gypsies, O'Maoileidigh Irish Dancers and many more. $15 entry.

These guys know March isn't just about the Irish, but also about college basketball. Down $1 green beers and watch the games starting at 11 a.m. Stick around for karaoke and live music from the Pasty White Boys. $3 drinks.

The Irish aren't known only for their drinking abilities, but also for their dancing. The Trinity Irish Dance Company will give a free performance and show what the little isle knows about fancy footwork. 8 p.m.

These guys had so much fun last year that they want to do it again. Join in the fun for the second annual St. Patrick's Day March Madness Blowout. They're roping off the parking lot to present live bands, but will have a DJ inside the bar. Entry is $5 and green beers will be flowin' for $3.50 all day long. 10 a.m. to 2 a.m.

All locations across Houston will be hosting huge "Who's Your Patty" celebrations today. Expect the green beer to flow and Irish-inspired food at all locations. The largest parking lot event will be held at the Sherlock's located at 10001 Westheimer from 2 p.m. to 2 a.m., with Rat Ranch, Adrenaline and Downcry providing live entertainment

They still claim to have the best daiquiris in town, so why not see what they cook up for St. Pat's? Join special guest "Kermit" for the It's Not Easy Being Green Party. Drink specials all day. No cover. 3 p.m. to 2 a.m.

Here's a place to start drinking early, and it'll be okay to have the kids along. There will be green beer, authentic Irish stew for everyone and even attractions for the kids. Maybe you'll get lucky and find a four-leaf clover sticking out from the sand. 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

When The Tavern titles a party a parking-lot blowout, you know you can expect sheer fun. A blowout couldn't really get going with just a one-day celebration, so this parking-lot party will be around for three days, from Thursday, March 15, through Saturday, March 17. There'll be a crawfish boil and live music every day. Oh, and lots o' beer.

Vito's Deck House 5810 Beverly Hill, 713-334-VITO

You know what you want on St. Patrick's Day -- lots o' green beer, live music and food. Vito's will have all of it with crawfish, beer specials and the crew from 103.7 FM to help move the party along.

If you can't stop the party on Sunday, then head out to Champions Forest for yet another St. Patrick's Day parade. It doesn't start until 2 p.m., so you can be sure to sleep off your hangover and have one more day of being Irish. Last year there were more than 100 entries and 75,000 in attendance, so you can expect to be entertained. The parade route begins at the Wells Fargo parking lot on the corner of Champions Forest Drive and FM 1960 and closes at the corner of FM 1960 and Kuykendahl.